Safe.



Patented Oct. 24, I899. G. L. DAMON.

SAFE.

2 Sheets Sheet (No Model.)

(No Model.)

6. L. DAMON,

SAFE.

Patented Bot. 24, I899.

(Application filed Jan. 11, 1899.)

| I L I r llihllml 0 0 lg g o o O 2 2 O 0 a 55 1 I v M". OZ 6 I E a a 1 ol a c 6 c F- C6 5 I: a I 8; J XI 2 OR 1 G I 7h o 3 7 a 1- c a 6 a Z a a 2] 07/1 1 I f o I- o O o o |o on o 6 MI 01 K I a 6 Z 3 UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

GEORGE L. DAMON, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

SAFE.

SPEClFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,668, dated October 24, 1899.

Applicatioufiled January 11 1899. Serial No. 701,778. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. DAMON, of Cambridge, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Safes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and figures on the drawings representing like parts.

Prior to this invention vaults have been provided with a circular entrance closed by one circular door, and while such a door presents advantages as to its tight closure yet it is very objectionable because of the large amount of swing-space required to open the door and also by the difficulty of sustaining the great weight of the door, so that it may always unerringly close and readily fit the entrance. So, also, a vault has had a quadrilateral entrance provided with a mullion on which two quadrilateral-shaped doors were locked, the mullion when the doors were open being slipped to one side out of the center of the door-entrance; but the mullion always occupies a position somewhere in the entrance and takes up very valuable room, and to secure a given width of entrance-space at the vault requires the making of a wider entrance than would be necessary were it not for the mullion, which must stand in the entrance at one side. I have aimed to provide a vault with a circular entrance, so that the joint between the vault and door may have a ground fit and also that I may gain the advantage of double looking, so that in case the lock of the door which is first manipulated to open the entrance fails the other lock on the other door may be manipulated and is opened, it being hardly probable that both looks should get out of order. I have provided bars on a mullion to lock these two doors; but the mullion when the doors are open is entirely removed from the entrance.

When two doors are closed with one look, should the single lock failand it is always a possibilitythere is not only a great delay in opening the door, but loss of business, and also frequently great expense is incurrediu opening the door. I have therefore devised a new vault, it having a circular entrance, and the entrance is closed with two semicircular doors, each door being locked onto a mullion which is entirely removable from the vault-entrance when the doors are opened.

One part of my invention consists, therefore, in a vault having a circular entrance closed by two semicircular doors, the outer edges of the doors fitting the entrance with a ground joint to insure a fit which will preclude the passage of fire or powder or a liquid explosive by which to blow the safe open; also, in a vault having a circular entrance and two semicircular doors and a mullion to which both doors are locked, said mullion being entirely removable from the vault-entrance when both doors are open; also, in a mullion having means to lock it in central position in the entrance of the vault and means to connect said mullion with one of said doors, so that when the mullion is unlocked" it may be entirely removed from the entrance with one of the doors.

Other features of my invention will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is an outside or front elevation of a vault, its entrance being closed by my improved doors. Fig. 2 is a view from the interior of the vault, looking outward at the closed doors. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail showing the doors closed on the mullion, the boltwork of both doors being omitted because substantially shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail showing one of the doors partially opened from the mullion; and Fig. 5 is a vertical section showing one edge of the mullion in place, the said view being placed horizontal rather than vertical on the drawing to save space.

A represents the body or front of a vault, provided with a circular entrance A, closed by two doors B B, each door being semicircular in shape. The circular edges of the doors and the circular walls of the entrance A are provided each with a series of projections or notches, which are made opposite each other, so that when the doors are closed the joint between the doors and vault-entrance may form a close air and liquid tight fit, the fit being insured by grinding the door into the entrance in the usual manner of making ground joints, said joints being so close and the projections and notches being of such shape as to preclude, as stated, the

passage of fire, powder, or a liquid explosive into the safe. Each door is provided at a slight distance back from its vertical edge with suitableprojections a, attached by suitable screws a, said projections receiving pintles a which are engaged by hinges a pivoted at their outer ends upon suitable rods a, sustained in suitable ears a secured to the vault in any suitable manner, as by bolts a. The rod a which forms the pivotal points for the outer ends of thehinges of whatever form and shape, is located in a vertical plane, preferably outside or close to the circle defining the entrance.

Each end of the mullion G to be described has a notch 12 to embrace a like stud or projection I), mounted in the entrance near its inner side.

The circular edge of each door is provided at b with notches and projections to cooperate with and engage similar notches and projections b made in the entrance of the vault, and the vertical edge of each door is notched at b to accurately fit similar notches and projections at one side of the mullion C. The ends of the mullion C (see Fig. 5) are provided with like notches and projections to cooperate with the notches or projections 6 extended about the entrance to the vault.

Fig. 5 shows the projection I) referred to,

it entering the notch of the mullion.

Each door will in practice be provided with a suitable time or other lock 0 and will carry suitable boltwork, as 0, c c and 0 under the control of suitable operating means, shown in this instance asa handle 0 located at the outside of the door, said handle being connected with a short shaft extended through the door and provided at its inner end with a disk 0 having as herein represented three crank-pins, (see Fig. 2,) said crank-pins entering, respectively, suitable openings in the ends of the bolts 0 0 so that when said handle is turned the said bolts will be shot out or in, they being moved longitudinally. The bolt 0 has an extended ear o which engages one end of a lever 0 which in turn is jointed to a bolt 0 adapted to move in suitable guides. Each of the bolts 0, c and c is extended through suitable guide-passages, so that its movement is controlled and directed in the proper lines. The bolt engages the interior of the vault at a point within the door at its circular edge between the hinges. The bolt 0 engages the upper part of the circular opening of the vault within it at or near the vertical edges of the door, while the bolts 0 c engage the rear side of the mullion. The bolts 0 are actuated from the bolts 0 by or through intermediate pivoted elbow-levers 0 In practice I may use any number of these bolts, and instead of the particular bolt system represented I may use any other suitable or equivalent system of boltwork, this invention not being limited to any particular construction of boltwork or to the particular number or shape of the bolts or the means for actuating them, I having herein shown one form which may be used.

The front of the mullion occupies a position within the vertical face of the vault, and each end of the mullion fits snugly the notches and projections of the entrance.

The mullion has at both ends a suitable system of bolts d d connected with movable carriages d, the bolts sliding in suitable holes made in flanges or projections extended inwardly from the mullion.

The mullion has connected with it centrally at its inner side a suitable bearing 61 which receives a shaft at", having at its opposite ends suitable sockets d provided, respec-' tively, with right and left hand screw-threads, which engage screw-threads of studs (1 connected with the carriages at, so that by turnin g said shaft the carriages and their attached bolts d and (1 may be moved out or in to thereby lock the mullion in place in the en trance or unlock it, so that the mullion may be carried entirely out of said entrance. To turn this shaft,I have provided it with a wormtoothed wheel (1 which is engaged by a worm d on a shaft fitted to receive a key or other device by which to rotate it and cause the worm in engagement with the Worm gear to turn the shaft to the right or left, according to whether the bolts are to be projected or withdrawn. The shaft has loosely connected with it two arms 1 each provided, preferably, with a suitable notch or pocket. (Represented by dotted lines in Fig. 2.)

The door B is represented as provided with suitable pairs of ears (1 between which is mounted on suitable pivots (1 suitable radiusbars (1, said radius-bars having a hole (Z in their free ends, the hole in the radius-bar coming into line with the pocket in the arm (1 when the end of the bar overlaps the end of the arm.

Prior to locking the last door the operator, having previously turned the shaft 61 to cause the bolts d and (Z to engage. the entrance, turns the radius-bars (Z aside out of line with the arms d.

When one door is opened, to gain entrance to the vault the operator turns the radiusbars into the position shown in Fig. 2 and by dotted lines in Fig. 3 and full lines in Fig. 4 and then by the key on the shaft carrying the worm d turns the latter and rotates the shaft (Z withdrawing the bolt cZ so that its inner end 2, there being two such bolts, enters, respectively, the open eyes in the radius-bar and then the arms (1, said bolts at such motion securely fastening the mullion to the door B, so thatwhen'both bolts (1 and (V have been fully retracted from their engagement with the entrance or vault-frame the door B and the mullion may be swung outwardly together from the entrance, leaving the area of the entrance unobstructed and free for access into the vault.

The arms (1, the radius-bars d, and the ends 2 of the bolts (Z constitute a coupling means between the m nllion and the door, and

instead of the particular coupling means shown I may employ any other suitable or equivalent means by which the mullion may be temporarily united to the door which is last to be opened, so that the opening of that door may take the mullion with it.

By using two semicircular doors instead of one circular door I am enabled to greatly economize space in the room occupied by the vault, for the two doors may be moved in a much smaller space than one door having the diameter of both doors, and, further, by dividing the weight of the heavy doors on two sets of hinges it is possible to reduce the wear of the hinges and maintain the doors in such alinement that when closed their edges will accurately fit the entrance-or,in other words, the lighter the door the less its tendency to sag due to wear, and should the door sag at all it cannot because of its great Weight be made to properly fit the entrance.

By supporting the mullion on the door when the doors are open I am enabled to do away with brackets inside the entrance to support the mullion, and consequently I am enabled to save space within the vault.

By coupling the mullion toadoor and making the ends of the mullion in the arc of a circle corresponding with the circle of the doors it is possible to unite both doors and mullion as one piece and turn them together in the entrance when grinding the door to a close-fit joint within the entrance.

The doors are provided at their outer sides with suitable pressure devices,represented by horizontal shafts e and vertical shafts 6', each of said shafts havingat its end a suitable projection, as c or 6 which enters cam-shaped slots in suitable ears 6 or 6 so that by turning said shafts said studs working in the cam-,

slots of the ears force the doors firmly into the entrance and secure them therein absolutely air and liquid tight. These rock-shafts are supported in suitable bearings, as e and 6 extended from the outer side of the door, and these rock-shafts may be turned sufficiently to cause their ends to enter the notches and act as clamps to hold the door closed by means of suitable devices actuated by the hand-Wheels f on shafts supported in bearings at the outer face of the door. This clamping means is not of my invention, and instead thereof I may employ any other usual or suitable clamping means. While the door and mullion are being ground into the entrance to make a ground fit the projections b will be removed from entrance, said projections being added after the ground fit has been effected.

My invention is applicable not only to vaults, but to smaller safes and receptacles.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A vault having a circular stepped entrance and two semicircular doors having their edges correspondingly stepped to cooperate with and close said entrance, and hinges supporting said doors and connected to the vault.

2. A vault, having a circular entrance, semicircular doors closing said entrance, a mullion extending diametrically across said entrance and having its ends curved to correspond with the said entrance, the doors and the edges of the entrance and the ends of the mullion being provided with notches and projections, making a ground joint to preclude the passage of fire, powder or liquid explosive to the interior of the vault.

3. A vault, having a circular entrance and two semicircular doors,and a mullion to which both doors may be locked said mullion being mounted to swing entirely from the doorspace.

4:. A vault, having a circular entrance, two semicircular doors, and a mullion to which both doors may be looked, said mullion being adapted to be carried by one door as the latter is being opened to thus remove the mullion completely from the entrance.

5. A vault, having a circular entrance, two semicircular doors, a mullion, to which both doors may be locked, and locking means at the opposite ends of said mullion to secure said m ullion diametricallyin the entrance of the vault.

6. A vault, having a circular entrance, a mullion, locking means to retain, the mullion diametrically in said entrance, two doors, each fitted to be locked on the mullion, and means to lock the mullion to the last door to be opened, whereby when the mullion is unlocked from the entrance it will be locked to the door' to be moved thereafter with the door in its opening and closing movements, thereby removing the mullion from the entrance.

7. In a vault, havinga circularentrance, a mullion, and means to lock it in diametrical position in the said entrance, said means consisting of anotch and a detachable projection, substantially as described.

8. In a vault having a circular entrance, a mullion provided at opposite ends with bolts, combined with a shaft, and means to actuate the same to withdraw or project said bolts as it is desired to unlock or look the mullion in position diametrically in said entrance.

9. The combination with a semicircular door, having a pivoted radius-bar, of a mullion, and means carried by said mullion to effect the locking or coupling of said radinscooperating with said entrance and said mullion for closing the entrance, said doors and f mullion fitting said entrance by a groundi joint, substantially as described.

12. A vault having opposed doors closingi 'toward'each other, a mullion fitting between j said doors and cooperating therewith to close '2 the entrance of the vault, and means to lock the mullion to one of said doors whereby the :j mullion is carried by saiddoor as the latter 1 is being opened to thus remove the mullion completely from the entrance of the vault, substantially as described. 13. A vault having an entrance, a vault-f door partially closing said entrance and a mullion, combined with end locking mechanl ism to lock the ends of said mullion in said entrance when the latter is closed, and means a to lock said mullion to said door to move with i it when being opened, the end locking means 1 being at such time retracted to release the, ends of the mullion. 1 14. A vault having a circular steppeden trance presenting a series of circular shoulders, one of which is provided with a groove, combined with'two semicircular stepped doors to close saidentrance, said doors having semicircular shoulders, one of which is grooved, the grooved shoulders of the doors and the entrance fitting one the other and making a liquid or air tight joint.

15. A vault having a circular entrance, and two semicircular doors to'close said entrance, each of said doors having at their meeting edges a series of shoulders, one of which is provided with a groove, combined with a multlion adapted to be connected with and be removed wholly from the entrance of the vault by the last door of the pair to be opened, said mullion having a series of verticalshoulders one of which is grooved, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE L. DAMON.

Witnesses:

GEO. W. GREGORY, MARGARET A. DUNN. 

